Category Archives: Uncategorized

I continue my discussion of leaders and managers on the Congregational Resource Guide website.  I welcome your reactions/responses! http://www.congregationalresources.org/blogs/manager-or-leader-part-iii

Here is a link to another post on leaders and managers.   Probing this distinction helps us understand what hat we are wearing (manager or leader) and when we need to wear it.  Wearing the wrong hat at the wrong time … Continue reading →

I am writing a series of posts on CRG about the differences between leaders and managers.  They are two very different mindsets.  Oftentimes, both exist within us.  However, understanding when we need to think as a leader and when we … Continue reading →

In my latest post on the CRG website, I discuss a number of options congregations can use to dispose of trash in environmentally sound ways.  It is a big deal—this trash stuff.  Planet Earth is being overwhelmed by it.  As … Continue reading →

In my latest post on Congregational Resource Guide, I discuss some ideas about greening our congregations.  This is not only a moral imperative to protect the plant.  It is also a congregational growth strategy since many people today will not … Continue reading →

I am currently writing posts on various issues related to buildings for the blog at Congregational Resource Guide.  My current post is on security systems: https://mail.westernpresbyterian.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.congregationalresources.org/blogs/safe-sacred-places-building-security-systems   I invite you to follow the link.  In my experience, building security is not … Continue reading →

In Daniel Pink’s best selling book Drive, he describes three things required to motivate today’s employees.  My guess is that they are equally valid for the volunteers who work so hard in our congregations.  They are autonomy, mastery and purpose. … Continue reading →

We need to allow employees more freedom to pursue ideas for ministry. As they pursue such ideas, the motivation will come from within, not from their pastoral or lay supervisors. Continue reading →

                Early in my ministry, I heard about a church having problems with its roof.  To a clergy colleague I made a comment about “the business end of that church” being managed poorly.  The friend responded, “The business of the … Continue reading →